There are people I've tried to help, for years.
One man accepted this help for about twenty years, then said: "You're a scoundrel". Well said, I don't argue.
But, you know, I could have said to myself: you cared so much about this person, and he, he didn't hesitate to call you a scoundrel. Instead, you have to be humble enough to say "Yes, thank you, you told me the truth, I forgot who I was". And if I say it sincerely, it's a victory. A spiritual victory.
But usually we're offended: "Observe yourself!"
That's why I say: it's better not to remark to anyone, because if you want to have enemies, start remarking to people. They're not ready to accept criticism.
It's the same in the family. We're not ready to hear the truth about ourselves. And if someone isn't ready, and I tell them the whole truth, there will only be resentment.
That truth won't do any good. A Christian has to be intelligent, he has to reason. He can see his neighbor in a troubled state; however, even bishops are sinful men too.

If a person doesn't live by the Holy Spirit, if their words aren't inspired by God, it's a sickness; we don't judge that person, we pity them, we start to love them even more.
For decades in prison, the residents of our Residential Center have heard that they are complete and incorrigible scoundrels. They're already used to it, but when they're told, "You're good, you're a noble and beautiful person," they begin to change.
The apostle Paul tells us, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Can you imagine what that means? "Me? God's temple? It's unimaginable! But what if I am that temple? What if the Holy Spirit dwells in me? What if I can free myself from this filth that, unfortunately, accumulates so quickly and clutters my immortal soul?"

If I become a saint, will I enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
I say to our brothers at the shelter: "You have to stop smoking, there won't be any cigarettes there", because we die without cigarettes.
Everything is so simple, everything is clear with God.
If you really live your life with God now, you'll enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Don't scold your loved ones.
Sometimes children are told, "We're ashamed to have raised you. That's horrible and foolish. Never say that for fear of inflicting lifelong resentment on them, lest they enter eternity with him.

Archpriest André Léméchonok